As Americans return to a more ‘normal’ life following two years of COVID-19 protocols, many have a desire to look their best — and they’ve also got savings to burn.
CNBC reports that procedures at medical spas are up, with customers getting more ‘robust’ treatment plans including things like laser hair removal, Botox, and Juvederm.
The med-spa industry was already seeing massive growth in the past 15 years, but while the pandemic hit many sectors hard, the med-spa industry saw overall success.
And that’s on track to continue: According to ReportLinker, the US medical spa market was estimated at $4.8 billion in 2021, with about $12.73 billion globally — and the global market is expected to balloon to $25.9 billion by 2026.
Industry experts report that procedures at medical spas are up, with customers getting more ‘robust’ treatment plans. The US medical spa market was estimated at $4.8 billion in 2021 (stock image)
The trend toward growth is occurring worldwide, but the US makes up 37.7% of the market — and Americans are ready to embrace life without lockdowns.
‘People kind of want to look their best now that they’re getting out of Covid,’ Alicia Bernal, manager of the Z-Center for Cosmetic Health in Sherman Oaks, California, told CNBC.
‘So they want to treat their skin, and they’re investing more into procedures that give them long-term effects versus just doing injectables to kind of give you only short-term outcomes.’
Devin Haman, CEO and Co-Founder of Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center, added in an article for Forbes: ‘The emotional impact of this pandemic and all its related effects have brought a lot of new customers into the fold as people tried to invest in themselves through relaxation, beauty treatments, and lifestyle advice.’
While reentering the world is a contributing factor, the prevalence of Zoom video calls has contributed to a higher interest in facial procedures as well.
CNBC points to a 2021 study by the skincare brand StriVectin, in which 44% of 2,000 surveyed said they researched how to look better on these calls, while a third have considered cosmetic procedures.
Experts suggest it is in part due to people wanting to look their best after being at home. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons also cites the ‘Zoom Boom (stock image)
Writing for the Boston Globe this month, Kara Baskin said that she made her first Botox appointment ‘after two years of eating more, moving less, and staring at my every wrinkle on Zoom.’
In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons even has a name for the phenomenon: the ‘Zoom Boom.’
According to the American Medical Spa Association, the three most popular procedures are skincare-related, and mostly focused on targeting signs of aging.
They include neuromodulators like Botox, hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm, and microneedling, which is used to tighten and remove acne scars.
Other med-spa procedures include dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, laser hair removal, hair transplants, sclerotherapy (to remove spider veins), permanent makeup, chemical peels, and body sculpting like CoolSculpting.
More invasive procedures include liposuction, face lifts, labiaplasty, and vaginal rejuvenation.
In fact, anecdotal evidence shows an increase in demand for body sculpting procedures as well.
Katie Din, the owner of Flawless Image Medical Aesthetics in East Syracuse, New York, speculates that this is because so many people have gained weight.
‘Our weight loss section has been busier since the pandemic because a lot of people put on weight working from home, not having to go out in public,’ she said.
There has been such a growing interest in getting work done that one New York City med-spa, The Well, did away with its membership plan and inviting anyone to make an appointment.
The Well’s CEO, Rebecca Parekh, told Fortune that they have also seen ‘a tremendous amount of demand for private events’ as New York reopens.
‘From birthday dinners to bridal party foot rubs and brunch to corporations looking for new ways to bring their team together with full buy-out of talks and movement classes and treatments, we’ve been able to develop some amazing programs that are fun, experiential, and safe,’ she said.
